GSCS to perform 'Music of the Isles' in Rochester

The Granite State Choral Society (Courtesy photo)

The Granite State Choral Society presents “Music of the Isles” in collaboration with Berwick Academy Upper School Chorus on May 3 and 4.  Under the direction of Seth A. Hurd, Music Director, “Music of the Isles” will feature a variety of Celtic and British folk songs, including All Things Bright and Beautiful, A Welsh Lullaby, Irish Tune from County Derry, Miner’s Life, Baba Yetu from “Calling all Dawns” and more, all accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

Berwick Academy Upper School Chorus will present several pieces including Riversong: A Celtic Celebration and Touch the Sky from “Brave”, and then will join Granite State in a joint venture to close out the program.  

Performances will be held on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m., at the Dover Baptist Church, 151 Washington St., Dover, N.H., and Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main St., Rochester. 

Now into its 39th season, the Granite State Choral Society is a nonauditioned community chorus dedicated to presenting quality choral performances, ranging in styles from classics to Broadway, and to promoting the appreciation of the choral arts. The members come from all walks of life from ages 12 and up, and range from experienced singers to novices just discovering the joys of choral singing. 

The director, Hurd, is a native of Maine and resides in Acton. Hurd earned a Bachelor of Music Degree with emphasis in Organ and Conducting at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management at the University of Phoenix in Arizona.  While at UNH he was a student conductor of the University Concert Choir and on tours in Jamaica and New York, under the instruction of Cleveland Howard, JR., while also studying conducting with Stanley Hettinger. 

He is currently the Director of Finance and Operations at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, ME and is also a member of the music faculty.  He has been the Music Director for the Upper School Musicals, coaching recent productions of The Boyfriend, Oklahoma!, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, and Oliver. 

Hurd has worked in a number of nonprofit arenas and has held positions on the local school board, finance committees, and the Old Berwick Historical Society.  He is also no stranger to education, having taught 7^th and 8^th grade general music at Berwick Academy in the mid 1990’s as well as chorus and general music in the Sanford School Department’s Adult Education and Alternative Education Program from 1993-1998.  His return to Berwick has found him not only serving as the Music Director for the Upper School musicals but also teaching Upper School Chorus.  He is a former Director of Music and Organist at the North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford, ME, a former Director (1993-1998) of the Sanford Community Chorus, and a former Director (2005-2007) of the Seaglass Chorale in Kennebunk, ME.  Mr. Hurd is currently the Music Director at the Acton Congregational Church in Acton, ME, and a member of the American Guild of Organists, and of the American Choral Directors Association.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.  Advance tickets may be purchased at First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main St., Rochester, Care Pharmacy, 161 South Main Street, Rochester, or from any Granite State Choral Society member.  Rochester Chamber Discount Card holders and Barrington Chamber members received $2 off per ticket.

GSCS encourages singers to join us in the fall for our 40^th Anniversary Season. GSCS will perform Schirmer’s Messiah in December 2014 and a special commissioned piece (along with other works) in the Spring of 2015.  Registration begins at 3:30 p.m. on September 14, in the Chapel of the First Congregational Church, 63 South Main Street, Rochester, NH, with rehearsal following at 4.  There are no auditions.  Rehearsals are held on Sunday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Performances are scheduled for December 13 & 14, 2014, and March 28, and May 15 in 2015.  For more information please call (207) 457-1576 or visit www.gschoralsociety.org.